Rotary Table Part Measurement Calibration Offset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing part measurement systems face challenges in ensuring accuracy and repeatability due to environmental fluctuations, such as temperature changes, which require frequent recalibration of measuring devices during inspections, especially when measuring parts on machining beds like rotary lathes.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a measuring instrument calibrated by comparing measurements of an object with known dimensions, referred to as an artifact, to calculate a calibration offset, allowing for simultaneous calibration and measurement of parts, and correcting measurements to account for environmental conditions, using a rotary table and processing unit to rotate the part between measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If measurements are taken in a non-controlled environment with temperature fluctuations, then the measuring process can be performed continuously, but measurement precision deteriorates due to environmental changes requiring frequent recalibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement continuityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration by measuring an artifact with known dimensions before measuring the actual part. This preliminary action establishes a baseline calibration offset that compensates for environmental conditions, allowing continuous measurements to maintain precision without frequent recalibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from artifact measurements to continuously update calibration offsets. By periodically measuring the artifact and comparing its known dimensions to measured values, the system calculates calibration offsets that are applied to subsequent part measurements, maintaining accuracy despite environmental fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the measuring device is recalibrated multiple times during inspection, then measurement precision is maintained, but loss of time increases due to repeated calibration procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a single preliminary calibration using an artifact with known dimensions before the inspection sequence. This preliminary calibration establishes calibration offsets that remain valid throughout the inspection, eliminating the need for repeated recalibration procedures and reducing time loss while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically performs calibration using the artifact and calculates calibration offsets without requiring manual intervention. The automated calibration process reduces the time and effort required compared to manual recalibration, allowing the system to maintain precision efficiently throughout the inspection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If calibration is performed using an artifact with known dimensions, then measurement precision is improved through calibration offset calculation, but device complexity increases due to additional calibration components and procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration accuracyVSAvoidcalibration system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an artifact with known dimensions as an intermediary object between the measuring device and the actual part. This artifact serves as a mediator that enables calibration offset calculation, improving measurement precision while keeping the complexity manageable through a simple, dedicated calibration artifact rather than a complex calibration system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3943876B1Methods for measuring part size and runout
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP
  • EP3943876B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3943876B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3943876B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A part measuring kit for a rotary table (210; 510) on a machine bed includes a part fixture (220; 520) mountable on the rotary table (210; 510) for retaining a part to be measured (230, 430; 530) and/or an object having known dimensions. The kit further includes a measuring device (240; 540) mountable on the machine bed and movable relative to the rotary table (210; 510) for taking measurements of the part to be measured (230, 430; 530) and/or the object having known dimensions, wherein the rotary table (210; 510) is rotatable between each taken measurement. The kit further includes a calibration offset calculator for calculating a calibration offset for the measuring device (240; 540) by comparing taken measurements of the object having known dimensions with the known dimensions, and correcting taken measurements of the part to be measured (230, 430; 530) via the calculated calibration offset.